"Did you purchase these masts of an American?"
He replied in the affirmative; so that we had captured the very vessel,
in attempting to cut out which we had lost so many men.
We were all very glad of this, and Swinburne said, "Well, hang me, if I
didn't think that I had seen that port-hole before; there it was that I
wrenched a pike out of one of the rascal's hands, who tried to stab me,
and into that port-hole I fired at least a dozen muskets. Well, I'm
damned glad we've got hold of the beggar at last."
We secured the prisoners below, and commenced putting the schooner in
order. In half-an-hour, we had completed our knotting and splicing, and
having two of the carpenters with us, in an hour we had got up a small
jury-mast forward, sufficient for the present. We lowered the mainsail,
put try-sails on her, and stood after the brig, which was now close to
the prizes: but they separated, and it was not till dark that she had
possession of two. The third was then hull down on the other tack, with
the brig in chase. We followed the brig, as did the two recaptured
vessels, and even with our jury up, we found that we could sail as fast
as they. The next morning we saw the brig hove-to and about three miles
a-head, with the three vessels in her possession. We closed, and I went
on board. Webster was put in charge of the privateer; and, after
lying-to for that day to send our prize-masters and men on board to
remove the prisoners, we got up a proper jury-mast, and all made sail
together for Barbadoes. On my return on board, I found that we had but
one man and one boy killed and six wounded, which I was not aware of. I
forgot to say that the names of the other two privateers were
_L'Etoille_ and _La Madeleine_.
In a fortnight we arrived with all our prizes safe in Carlisle Bay,
where we found the admiral, who had anchored but two days before. I
hardly need say that O'Brien was well received, and gained a great deal
of credit for the action. I found several letters from my sister, the
contents of which gave me much pain. My father had been some months in
Ireland, and had returned without gaining any information. My sister
said that he was very unhappy, paid no attention to his clerical duties,
and would sit for days without speaking. That he was very much altered
in his appearance, and had grown thin and care-worn. "In short," said
she, "my dear Peter, I am afraid that he is fretting himself to death.
Of course I am very lonely and melancholy. I cannot help reflecting
upon what will be my situation if any accident should happen to my
father. Accept my uncle's protection I will not; yet how am I to live,
for my father has saved nothing? I have been very busy lately, trying
to qualify myself for a governess, and practise the harp and piano for
several hours every day. I shall be very very glad when you come home
again." I showed the letters to O'Brien who read them with much
attention. I perceived the colour mount into his cheeks, when he read
those parts of her letters in which she mentioned his name, and
expressed her gratitude for his kindness towards me.
"Never mind, Peter," said O'Brien, returning me the letters; "to whom is
it that I am indebted for my promotion, and this brig, but to you--and
for all the prize-money which I have made, and which, by the head of St.
Patrick, comes to a very dacant sum, but to you? Make yourself quite
easy about your dear little sister. We'll club your prize-money and
mine together, and she shall marry a duke, if there is one in England
deserving her; and it's the French that shall furnish her dowry, as sure
as the _Rattlesnake_ carries a tail."